Lorenzo still quickest

MotoGP leader Jorge Lorenzo picked up right where he left off as he clocked the fastest time in the first practice session for the Czech Grand Prix.

Lorenzo won in California three weeks ago before the world championship took a break, but he was back in front again as he led the field by over half a second in Brno.

The Fiat Yamaha rider enjoys a 72-point lead over Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa at the top of the standings, and he looks well placed to extend that advantage over the weekend.

Lorenzo posted a time six-tenths quicker than team-mate Valentino Rossi, who continued his impressive comeback from the broken leg he suffered at the Italian Grand Prix in June by taking third place.

Rossi was leading the way entering the final 20 minutes of the session at the undulating 3.357-mile Brno circuit, but Lorenzo upped the ante to move to the summit before pulling further clear with a lap of one minute 57.215 seconds.

Pedrosa pipped

Pedrosa pumped in a hot lap to snatch second place on the provisional grid from Rossi - 0.541secs off Lorenzo's pace - before a light rain shower prevented anyone from improving their time in the final 10 minutes of the session.

Spanish rider Lorenzo has won six of the nine races to date this season and has yet to finish lower than second as he closes in on his maiden world title in the top class, and he was delighted with his efforts today.

"Once I found my rhythm this was a good session and I felt happy on my bike, with a good setting to start from," he said.

"We tried both rear tyres and we need more time to choose, because unfortunately it rained a bit at the end and we had to stop early.

"We'll have to wait and see how the track is tomorrow but we hope for it to be dry so we can continue with what we started on today."

Rossi return

Rossi, who at the conclusion of Sunday's race is expected to announce plans to join Ducati from next season, revealed that he is slowly recovering his strength as he battles back from both his broken leg and a long-standing shoulder problem.

"I'm happy, this was a good practice and I feel good on the bike. After some laps I started to feel some pain in the shoulder and the leg but in general I am okay and my condition has improved a lot from the last race," he said.

"Even though I still have some pain I am quite a lot stronger, especially with the shoulder, so I don't have such a big problem in braking."

Andrea Dovizioso claimed fourth place on the second factory Honda ahead of the leading Ducati of Nicky Hayden, while Colin Edwards completed the second row for Tech 3 Yamaha.

The second Ducati of Casey Stoner was down in seventh place while Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini) recovered from an early fall to take eighth.

Ben Spies (Tech 3 Yamaha) and Alvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) rounded out the top 10.

LCR Honda's Randy De Puniet finished 16th as he made his return to action less than four weeks after breaking his left leg at the German Grand Prix.